I am considering selling my very nice 16" f 4.5 GSO Strut dobsonian which is just two years old and the current model. It has provided me with amazing reach into the night sky and has a wonderful mirror (and I have compared it to others). Limiting magnitude of 15.5 and resolving power of 0.29 arc seconds.
Full specs are available here, just scroll down to the the 16" dob:
http://www.andrewscom.com.au/optical-telescopes
Note that this same scope would cost you $2499 for a new stock version, and I am offering $1000 in additional value in the improvments/features listed below.
The scope has significant improvements over the stock version:
- Custom Marine Plywood base finished in dark brown varnish replacing the stock chipboard base. This custom base can be disassembled to flat pack for transport.
- Upgraded Primary mirror springs.
- Rear Fan Shroud and mirror air baffle inside tube above the mirror.
- Full Push-to system, using US Digital encoders on both Alt and Az axis, connected to an Astro Devices Nexus Wifi box. Most planetarium software can be used via wifi (I have used Sky Safari Pro).
- Alt and Az axis mods for the attachment of the encoders, which required replacement of stock Az pivot bolt and the Alt axis knob modification for attachment of the encoders.
- A removable stalk for attachment of a tablet device (for your planetarium softwware platform).
- A battery box that attaches to the side of the base (suitable for a 7AH battery), plus a three socket 12V distribution point.
- An Astrozap shroud.
- Stainless steel string adjustable braces on the top section of the scope to provide additional stiffness to the struts and ensure no collimation sag at differing altitudes.
- Two wheel barrow handles that attach to the base sides and are used to move the assembled scope around.
- A full length Telegizmo cover that goes right to the ground.
- Two custom ramps are available for rolling the lower scope/base section into the rear of a vehicle (if required).
I have put alot of time into creating the best 16" dob that I can, and am only considering selling it because I spend most of my time imaging these days and the dob will not fit in my observatory. It is also getting to be too much for me to manage now that I am over 65YO. In the past it has been transported to dark site locations and is pretty quick to setup. The scope has always been stored in a dehumidified shed under a drop sheet and the Telegizmo cover. The mirror is very clean, and is fairly easy to clean if needed in the future.
If your intered in this scope please PM me here on IIS.
Final Price is $1800 firm, pickup at Lake Macquarie.
Photos Attached
